In the spring of 1980, the life of Betty Jo Robertson, a 46-year-old Black woman, was tragically cut short in Hartford, Connecticut. On the afternoon of April 23rd, she was in a bar on Albany Avenue where she encountered 19-year-old Robert White. After a conversation, he persuaded her to let him walk her home. This seemingly ordinary walk would soon turn into a violent and fatal encounter.
As they walked, White's intentions became horrifically clear.
He pulled Betty Jo into a secluded area and attempted to sexually assault her. She bravely resisted her attacker, but her struggles were met with brutal force. In the ensuing struggle, White bit, scratched, and grabbed her before throwing her to the ground, where her head struck the concrete sidewalk with devastating impact. He then fled the scene, leaving her gravely injured.
Witnesses to the attack quickly called for help, and Betty Jo Robertson was rushed to a nearby hospital. Despite the efforts of medical staff, her injuries were too severe. She succumbed to the trauma and passed away the following day, on April 24, 1980. The investigation into her death was aided by witness accounts and a cap that White had left behind at the scene of the crime. This evidence led authorities to identify him as the primary suspect.
In late June of 1980, Robert White was arrested in connection with Betty Jo's death. During questioning, he confessed to the attack, stating that his intent was to rape her and that he did not mean to kill her. His defense argued that he was under the influence of alcohol at the time, which led to his initial charge of felony murder being reduced to first-degree manslaughter. On November 24, 1980, White pleaded guilty to the reduced charge. At his sentencing, he offered no explanation for his actions and was sentenced to a term of 10 to 20 years in prison. Years later, it would come to light that Robert White was responsible for the deaths of other women, revealing him to be a serial killer.
